09:08 AM EDT, 04/01/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were declining pre-bell Wednesday, with the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) 2.2% lower.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was 1.6% lower and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was down 1.5%.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 1.8% lower at $99.52 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil declined by 2.5% to $101.68 per barrel, and natural gas futures were 0.9% lower at $2.86 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Petroleo Brasileiro (PBR) said the chairman of its board of directors, Bruno Moretti, has resigned from his position. Petrobras shares were down more than 2% premarket.